Rafael Nadal launched his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title with a 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 trouncing of American Marcos Giron on Monday to reach the second round of the Australian Open.
Ashleigh Barty kept Australian spirits up cruising into the second round, but American No. 18 seed Coco Gauff was sent packing by unseeded Chinese Wang Qiang.
With Novak Djokovic sent packing by Australian authorities and Roger Federer absent, Nadal has the opportunity to earn a record 21st grand slam singles title and snatch the men’s all-time record.
The only former champion left in the draw, the Spanish great started superbly at a sunbathed Rod Laver Arena, breaking world No.66 Giron five times for the match and thrashing 34 winners past the outclassed American. Nadal had won the Australian Open only once, in 2009.
Denis Shapovalov, seeded 14, followed up his win with Canada in the ATP Cup with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3) win over Laslo Djere. World No.3 Alexander Zverev battled through a couple of tight sets to defeat compatriot Daniel Altmaier 7-6 (7-3), 6-1, 7-6 (7-1) and set up a second round match against John Millman.
Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini had to take three bathroom breaks during his 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory over Brandon Nakashima.
Unseeded American Sebastian Korda dumped British Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
Barty on a roll
Barty showed a good host can lift spirits at the most subdued of parties as she thumped Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-1. With the deportation of Djokovic leaving a massive hole at Melbourne Park and a major Covid-19 outbreak gripping the city, Barty’s twilight clinic at Rod Laver Arena gave the tournament a much-needed boost.
Barty remains as the main attraction here, carrying Australia’s hopes of ending a 44-year-old wait for a home champion.
Two young US contenders went out in the first round, with 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin losing 6-7 (2-7), 5-7 to fellow American Madison Keys and Gauff saving five match points before losing 4-6, 2-6 to Qiang.
The first test of defending champion Naomi Osaka’s new approach to tennis might have been when she completely missed a shot to give her opponent Camila Osorio a break point. Osaka didn't chuck her racket. She didn’t roll her eyes. She smiled.
“There are situations where I previously would get upset. But at this point in my life, like, I’m here because I want to be here and because I find that it’s fun for me,” Osaka said. Her title defence began smoothly with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Osorio.
Fifth-seeded Maria Sakkari defeated Tatjana Maria of Germany 6-4, 7-6 (7-2). Eighth seed Paula Badosa overcame a leg injury in the first set to break Ajla Tomljanovic’s serve three times in the second and beat the Australian 6-4, 6-0.
Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko rallied from a set down to prevail 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-1 over Slovak Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.
French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova kicked off her campaign by dispatching Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-0. Double Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka downed Panna Udvardy 6-3, 6-1.
Olympic champion Belinda Bencic eased past France’s Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-3 while 15th-seed Elina Svitolina beat Fiona Ferro 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).
